Apprenticeships

Lord Ouseley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentages of the newly created apprenticeships they forecast to be taken up for sponsorship by (a) the private sector, (b) the public sector, and (c) third-sector organisations.

Baroness Wilcox: The apprenticeships programme is demand-led. The documents Skills for Sustainable Growth and Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth, published in November 2010, set out the abolition of central targets and increased freedom and flexibility for further education colleges and training organisations. We rely on employers and providers to work together to offer sufficient opportunities to meet local demand, taking advantage of the greater freedoms and flexibilities that we have created.
	From the 2011-12 academic year, there will be a single adult skills budget, with earmarked delivery for apprenticeships. As part of its current allocations process, the Skills Funding Agency will set out a minimum expectation of apprenticeships delivery, in terms of the overall number of places that may be afforded. However, they will not build into that any specific assumptions about expected demand across public, private or third-sector organisations. Further education colleges and training organisations will be able to use their single adult skills budget allocation to expand apprenticeships, in line with the needs of their communities.

Asylum Seekers

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Jones on 22 March (WA 136-8), how many asylum seekers and dependants have made asylum applications since 1997; how many of those have been granted leave to remain or otherwise permitted to stay in the United Kingdom; how many have had their applications turned down; and how many are still in the United Kingdom.

Baroness Neville-Jones: Information on the outcome of an annual cohort of asylum applications is available in main table 2.7 of Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 2009, published in August 2010. This publication is available in the Library of the House and on the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration- asylum-stats.html. Table 2.7 shows the latest status of decisions on applications made in each year as at May 2010. Data for 2010 will be available in August 2011. A copy of the table is provided below.
	The numbers of decisions are different from those provided in the Written Answer on 22 March (WA 136-8) as the wording of the Question requires reference to the year of application as opposed to the year of initial decision.
	Information on annual cohorts of asylum applications received before 2004 and information on dependants of these applications could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	The United Kingdom does not have controls in place for people leaving the country, so information is not available on the number of asylum seekers/refugees and dependants currently residing in the United Kingdom.
	
		
			 Section 2: Asylum 
			 Table 2.7 Cohort analysis of applications for asylum, excluding dependants, made 2004 to 2009; initial decisions, appeals outcomes and removals and voluntary departures, as at May 2010 (1) 
			   Principal applicants 
			  2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 
			 Total Principal Applicants 33,960 25,710 23,610 23,430 25,930 24,485 
			 Initial Decisions   
			 of which-Initial decisions by Home Office   
			 Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum 1,250 1,945 2,685 3,795 4,110 3,075 
			 Not recognised as a refugee but granted, HP or DL 3,520 2,780 2,345 2,150 2,380 2,160 
			 Refused asylum, HP or DL 27,460 19,350 16,470 15,055 14,615 14,940 
			 Cases with decision not known (2) 610 710 1,060 1,365 1,760 2,630 
			 Applications withdrawn 1,115 930 1,050 1,065 3,070 1,680 
			 Appeals lodged 21,335 14,290 11,510 10,165 10,960 11,955 
			 of which-Appeals outcomes by the IAA/AIT (3)   
			 Allowed 4,760 3,420 2,455 2,055 2,690 3,375 
			 Dismissed 15,790 10,300 8,515 7,380 7,395 7,665 
			 Appeals with outcome not known (2) 20 30 35 335 445 490 
			 Withdrawn by appellant 500 310 225 210 240 225 
			 Withdrawn by Home Office 265 225 280 190 190 205 
			 Fresh Claims (4) 880 590 475 615 580 200 
			 Removals and voluntary departures 7,515 6,120 5,375 4,740 4,575 3,680 
			 Enforced removals and notified voluntary departures (5)(6) 5,645 4,800 4,340 3,745 3,420 2,690 
			 Assisted Voluntary Returns (7) 1,200 945 745 790 990 920 
			 Other voluntary departures (8) 670 375 290 205 170 70 
			 Summary of estimated outcomes (including appeal outcomes at IAA/AIT) (3)   
			 Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum 5,800 5,365 5,135 5,850 6,800 6,450 
			 as a percentage of total applications (17) (21) (22) (25) (26) (26) 
			 Not recognised as a refugee but granted HP or DL 3,735 2,780 2,345 2,150 2,380 2,160 
			 as a percentage of total applications (11) (11) (10) (9) (9) (9) 
			 Refused asylum, HP or DL, or withdrawn by appellant 23,795 16,830 15,035 13,735 14,550 12,755 
			 as a percentage of total applications (70) (65) (64) (59) (56) (52) 
			 Cases with decision not known (2)(9) 630 740 1,095 1,695 2,200 3,120 
			 as a percentage of total applications (2) (3) (5) (7) (8) (13) 
		
	
	(1) Figures (other than percentages) rounded to the nearest 5 (- = 0, * = 1 or 2) and may not sum to the totals shown because of independent rounding.
	(2) No confirmation of a decision had been received when statistics were compiled on 10 May 2010.
	(3) Appeals do not include outcomes of cases reconsidered prior to appeal. Excludes cases which were successful after appeal to the Immigration Appeal Tribunal/Immigration Appeal Review or higher courts.
	(4) Figures include applicants who have made a fresh claim in the same reference month, but do not include subsequent fresh claims.
	(5) Due to a reclassification of removal categories, figures include asylum removals performed by enforcement officers using port powers of removal and a small number of cases dealt with at juxtaposed controls.
	(6) Since January 2006 figures include persons leaving under facilitated return schemes.
	(7) Persons leaving under assisted voluntary return programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration. May include some cases leaving under the assisted voluntary return for irregular migrants programme and some cases where enforcement action has been initiated.
	(8) Since January 2005, persons who it has been established left the UK without informing the immigration authorities.
	(9) Includes appeals awaiting an outcome.
	(P) Provisional figures.

Aviation: Passenger Duty

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what effect European Union legislation will have on their proposals to reform air passenger duty.

Lord Sassoon: Air passenger duty (APD) is a UK duty levied on departures from UK airports. Budget 2011 announced a consultation on reform of APD, including proposals for simplifying the current APD distance bandings and the Government's plans to extend the duty to passengers aboard business jets. The effect of EU legislation in this area will be considered as part of the consultation process.

Banks: Green Investment Bank

Baroness Kramer: To ask Her Majesty's Government what future role they plan for the Energy Technologies Institute and the Carbon Trust; and how they will be affected by the formation of the Green Investment Bank.

Baroness Wilcox: The Carbon Trust is a private company, so its role is a matter for its board. However, DECC expects to grant fund the Carbon Trust in 2011-12 to deliver energy efficiency services and innovation programmes in support of priority technologies.
	The ETI is a public/private partnership run jointly by global industries and the UK Government. BIS is legally contracted to match the private sector partners' contributions to ETI until December 2017. The GIB will look to tackle financing of large-scale investments. In due course the GIB may want to explore opportunities to partner with the Carbon Trust and/or ETI.

Banks: Green Investment Bank

Baroness Kramer: To ask Her Majesty's Government to what extent the Green Investment Bank will use co-financing to fund low carbon technologies.

Baroness Wilcox: The GIB will be free to develop and deploy a wide range of financial products which are effective and represent value for money. We are currently testing the likely need for co-financing debt or equity products and intend to say more in May.

Banks: Green Investment Bank

Baroness Kramer: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that decisions about the allocation of public finance for low carbon technologies through the Green Investment Bank are made independently of government Ministers.

Baroness Wilcox: The Government have already stated that the GIB will take investment decisions at arm's length from Ministers and be able to reinvest the proceeds from its investments.
	We are currently working out how best to implement this objective, consistent with the Government's tests of effectiveness, affordability and transparency.
	We intend to announce more details in May.

Banks: Green Investment Bank

Baroness Kramer: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will use subordinated debt or other forms of mezzanine financing to fund low carbon technologies over the course of the parliament.

Baroness Wilcox: We are creating a Green Investment Bank which will finance green infrastructure technologies. We expect the GIB will be able to deploy a wide range of financial products, potentially including subordinated debt/mezzanine financing which will have to comply with state aid rules. The Government are committed to publishing further details by the end of May 2011.

Banks: Stress Tests

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the assumptions to be used in the series of stress tests on banks to be carried out by the European Banking Authority; and what is their assessment of the lack of mark-to-market sovereign debt exposures in trading books and stress tests on the same instruments held in banking books.

Lord Sassoon: The Financial Services Authority, alongside the Bank of England, has engaged actively in the design of the European Banking Authority (EBA) stress tests, with the aim of making them robust and consistent. It is clear from the material now published by the EBA that, taken as a whole, the assumptions to be used in the EBA stress tests are significantly tougher than last year.
	The EBA stress tests include the effect of EU-country sovereign stresses in several ways. Higher market interest rates in some countries depress economic activity in the scenario and should increase losses on lending to corporates and households. And sovereign debt held in trading books will be subject to "haircuts" based on changes to the market price as measured by sovereign credit default swaps. Sovereign debt held in the banking book, under current prudential and accounting standards in most EU countries, would only be mark-to-market in the event of an incurred loss, ie in the case of a sovereign default, which does not form part of the EBA stress scenario.
	The EBA has also committed to publication of banks' sovereign exposures in both the banking book and trading book, broken down in granular detail. This will not only allow for a split of information on exposures in the banking book between "available for sale" and "held to maturity" securities, but also according to maturity. As a result, market analysts will have all the elements needed to run their own stress tests of the banking book, under any assumptions of sovereign stress they wish to use.

Banks: Stress Tests

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government why the bank stress tests to be conducted by the European Banking Authority assume increased funding costs that fall short of those currently below consensus forecasts and implied forward rates; and whether the Financial Services Authority will use different assumptions when conducting similar exercises in respect of United Kingdom banks.

Lord Sassoon: Market expectations of rising interest rates are based on expectations of continuing economic growth and above-target inflation in the near term. An economic scenario of lower-than-expected economic growth would (other things being equal) be consistent with lower-than-expected inflation and nominal interest rates. That is the case with the European Banking Authority stress scenario, as developed by the European Central Bank.
	The Financial Services Authority uses a different set of macroeconomic assumptions in its "anchor stress test scenario" which is applied to United Kingdom banks as part of its rolling programme of stress testing. This includes a higher path of interest rates and funding costs than those in the European Banking Authority stress tests.

Banks: Stress Tests

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government why the stress tests to be conducted by the European Banking Authority make no assumptions about adverse developments in energy and commodity markets.

Lord Sassoon: There are multiple scenarios the European Banking Authority could run (and national regulators do expect banks to run in private). But for the purposes of a pan-EU stress test, the European Banking Authority had to develop one consistent scenario. The scenario design began in last November.
	Commodity prices are not directly modelled, but do indirectly feed into the macro modelling through price effects of currency assumptions and their impact on aggregate demand. The baseline scenario has been designed by the European Commission, while the stress scenario has been designed by the European Central Bank, in collaboration with the European Banking Authority. Both the Financial Services Authority and Bank of England have actively engaged in the process.

Broadcasting: Court Proceedings

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to allow the televising of proceedings in court.

Lord McNally: The Government are considering the merits and practicalities of televising court proceedings, but no final decisions on policy have been made, and no plans have so far been developed. In deciding how to proceed the Government will want to take account of the views of the judiciary, to agree an approach that maintains the right balance between allowing public scrutiny of court proceedings, while safeguarding against any disruption to the proper administration of justice.
	Before any changes could be made, the current statutory prohibition on televising court proceedings below the UK Supreme Court would need to be altered.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the likely impact for British researchers of the Opinion of the Advocate-General at the Court of Justice of the European Union in case C-34/10 (Brüstle v Greenpeace); and whether the definitions employed by the Advocate-General accord with those in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (as amended).

Baroness Wilcox: The legal opinion of the Advocate-General at the Court of Justice of the European Union in case C-34/10 (Brüstle v Greenpeace) will assist the judges who have yet to rule in this case. Although influential, the Advocate-General's opinion is advisory and does not hinder the Court. As such, the opinion itself currently has no impact for British researchers.
	The concept of a human embryo set out in the Advocate-General's opinion at paragraph 1 19, first indent, is consistent with the definition of human embryo in Section 1(1) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (as amended). The Advocate-General is clear that the definition of a human embryo is given only for the purpose of interpreting directive 98/44 on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions. UK researchers will still have to work within the definition set out in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (as amended).

Employment: Law

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many changes to employment law in the United Kingdom are planned in financial years 2011-12 and 2012-13; what are those changes; which of those proposals came from European legislation; and which came from domestic law.

Baroness Wilcox: Two domestic measures are planned for 2011-12: first, phasing out the default retirement age from this April and, secondly, any annual increase in rates payable under national minimum wage regulations. In October 2011, the Government will also implement the agency workers regulations (which originate from a European directive).
	From 1 April 2011, a moratorium will be introduced exempting micro and start-up businesses from new domestic legislation for three years. The Government have also announced recently that they will repeal the regulations extending the right to request flexible working to parents of 17 year-olds for all businesses (which were due to commence on 6 April 2011) and not extend the right to request time off to train for firms with less than 250 staff.
	As announced in the Treasury's Plan for Growth, the Government will publish a timetable for their review of employment law over the course of the Parliament, which will allow stakeholders, including businesses, to provide input to the changes being made. As part of this, we expect, following the conclusion of the employment tribunals consultation, to introduce legislation to reform their operation in due course, subject to the outcome of that consultation.
	Employment is a transferred matter in Northern Ireland and plans in relation to Northern Ireland are a matter for the devolved Administration there.

Employment: Law

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many new employment regulations have been made in the current financial year; and how many have been repealed or removed.

Baroness Wilcox: In 2010-11, six new employment regulations have been made:
	National Minimum Wage (Amendment) (No2) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/3001); National Minimum Wage Regulations 1999 (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/1901);Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 2010 (SI 2010/2926). This instrument revoked the Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 2008 (SI 2008/3055) and the Employment Rights (Revision of Limits) Order 2009 (SI 2009/3274);Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/1782);Flexible Working (Eligibility, Complaints and Remedies) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/2991); andAdditional Statutory Paternity Pay (General) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/678).
	In the same year, no employment regulations have been repealed or removed, although the Government have announced their intention to repeal the regulations regarding extending the right to request flexible working to parents of 17 year-olds.
	The above list does not include measures relating to Northern Ireland because employment is a transferred matter and so is a matter for the devolved Administration in Northern Ireland.

Energy: Electricity

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the electricity industry about diversity of power generation since May 2010.

Lord Marland: The department meets at official and ministerial level with the electricity industry on a regular basis. The Government consider that diversity of power generation has considerable benefits in terms of security of supply and that the UK will need a mix of renewables, new nuclear and fossil fuel plant, including that with carbon capture and storage, in the future in order to meet our energy goals. These issues are discussed with the electricity industry, and other stakeholders, as appropriate in the context of regular contact with these bodies.

Energy: Fuel Poverty

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Marland on 22 March (WA 145-6), why the call for evidence of the Hills review quoted fuel poverty statistics for England projecting an increase to four million fuel-poor households by 2010 that regarded winter fuel payments as not used to meet energy bills directly; and whether they will add to the terms of reference consideration of using a statistical definition that regards direct payments for fuel as alleviating fuel poverty.

Lord Marland: The call for evidence for the Hills review sets out the national statistics relating to the numbers of households in fuel poverty in 2008 and projections for England in 2010. In the current definition of fuel poverty, winter fuel payments are classified as an addition to recipients' income.
	The review will consider whether there is a case for fuel poverty to be considered distinct from poverty in general and will analyse the detriment caused. Thereafter, if appropriate based on the initial findings, the review will consider possible formulations for a definition and any associated form of target that would address the identified factors, help Government focus their resources and policies on those who need most support, measure cost-effectiveness in contributing to any target and develop practical solutions.

Energy: Gas

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the gas industry about security of supply since May 2010.

Lord Marland: The department meets at official and ministerial level with the gas industry regularly. Gas plays a vital role in our energy mix and will continue to do so as we transition to a low-carbon economy.

Energy: Wind Turbines

Lord Reay: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the subsidy cost of the renewables obligations certificates system in 2009-10; and what share of that went to (a) onshore, and (b) offshore, wind.

Lord Marland: The estimated total cost of the renewables obligation (RO) in 2009-10 was £1.1 billion. Of this, approximately £380 million was provided to onshore wind, and approximately £142 million was provided to offshore wind.
	These figures use the nominal value (equal to the buyout price + recycle value) of a renewable obligation certificate (ROC) for 2009-10. The nominal value represents the maximum worth of a ROC to a generator but is not necessarily the amount paid by a supplier, which is dependent on bilateral negotiations between supplier and generator.

Energy: Wind Turbines

Lord Reay: To ask Her Majesty's Government what amount of subsidy is guaranteed to existing accredited wind turbines (a) onshore, and (b) offshore, for the next 20 years, assuming present load factors.

Lord Marland: Stations accredited under the renewables obligation (RO) on or after 26 June 2008 are limited to 20 years of support under the RO. Existing onshore and offshore wind farms accredited after this date will therefore receive RO support until the 20-year point is reached or the end of their operational lifetime, whichever comes sooner. Wind farms accredited before 26 June 2008 will continue to receive support until the end of their operational lifetime or 2027, whichever is earlier.
	Onshore wind farms receive 1 ROC per MWh of generation, while offshore wind turbines, depending on when they were accredited, receive 1, 1.5 or 2 ROCs per MWh of generation. The expected average value of a ROC is around £41 in 2010 prices.
	The total amount of RO and FITs support that existing wind generators can expect to receive over the next 20 years has not been calculated. It will depend on load factors by station (which is dependent on a number of factors, such as location and turbine size), as well as the number of ROCs that station is eligible to receive per MWh of generation.

EU: Foreign Investment

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received any proposals by the European Commission to create a body with powers to block foreign investment in strategic sectors.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We have received no such proposal.

EU: Membership

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by the Prime Minister on 9 March (Official Report, Commons, col. 905), on what cost-benefit analysis they base their assessment of the benefits of European Union membership.

Lord Howell of Guildford: This Government's view is based on the consideration of benefits ranging from single market membership to the right to live and work across the EU as to effective co-operation in global affairs rather than on a formal cost-benefit analysis. These gains are not easily quantifiable. In addition, HM Treasury (HMT) has reviewed a wide range of studies by external commentators that attempt to assess the economic costs and benefits of the UK's membership of the EU. These reviews are regularly updated by HMT to ensure that they are providing Parliament and the public with up-to-date information. The most recent update was in November 2010 and is available at: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/foi_ eumembership_literaturereview.pdf.

Forced Marriage

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord McNally on 15 March (WA 39), whether they will publish the informal arrangements between the United Kingdom and Pakistan, India and Bangladesh for the mutual recognition of Forced Marriage Protection Orders.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Forced Marriage Unit and our high commissions work closely with the Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Indian authorities on a case by case basis to ensure the safety and repatriation of victims, using the provisions of a forced marriage protection order.
	The approach taken will differ from case to case and it is therefore not possible to publish a general or informal arrangement. Ultimately the recognition of forced marriage protection orders in Pakistan, Bangladesh or India is a matter of discretion for the relevant judiciary in those countries.
	The Forced Marriage Unit has commissioned the development of a legal handbook which will outline the legal remedies available in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and the UK in relation to forced marriage.

Forced Marriage

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord McNally on 15 March (WA 39), whether the informal arrangements with Pakistan, India and Bangladesh for the mutual recognition of Forced Marriage Protection Orders are recognised as part of the domestic laws of each of those countries.

Lord Howell of Guildford: There are no formal agreements in place between the UK and Pakistan, India, or Bangladesh for the mutual recognition of forced marriage protection orders. The Forced Marriage Unit and the British high commissions work closely with the Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Indian authorities on a case by case basis to ensure the safety and repatriation of victims, using the provisions of a forced marriage protection order.
	The approach taken will differ from case to case and it is therefore not possible to publish a general or informal arrangement. Ultimately the recognition of forced marriage protection orders in Pakistan, Bangladesh or India is a matter of discretion for the relevant judiciary in those countries.
	The Forced Marriage Unit has commissioned the development of a legal handbook which will outline the legal remedies available in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and the UK in relation to forced marriage.

Forced Marriage

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: To ask Her Majesty's Government what remedies are available in the courts of Pakistan, India and Bangladesh on behalf of individuals protected by United Kingdom Forced Marriage Protection Orders.

Lord Howell of Guildford: I refer my noble friend to the Answer my noble friend Lord McNally gave him on 15 March 2011 (Official Report, col. WA 39).
	The Forced Marriage Unit has commissioned the development of a legal handbook which will outline the legal remedies available in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and the UK in relation to forced marriage.

Gaza

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ask the Ambassador of Israel to explain the circumstances surrounding the latest Israeli military attack in Gaza.

Lord Howell of Guildford: My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary underlined concerns at escalating violence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in his public statement on 25 March. He noted that we have seen a surge in rockets and mortars launched at Israeli citizens from the Gaza Strip. This is abhorrent. Three people have been injured and many more are living in fear.
	He also noted that six Palestinian civilians, including four children, have been killed as a result of Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip. We continue to call for a complete end to attacks on Israel. We have also urged the Israeli Government to ensure that everything is done to avoid further civilian casualties.

Government Departments: Criminal Record Checks

Lord Moonie: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much the Department for Education spent on criminal records checks during the past 12 months.

Lord Hill of Oareford: During the past 12 months, the department has spent £10,367.32 on criminal record checks, and £874 on Disclosure Scotland Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks for its own staff.
	The department has also spent £5,028,135 on subsidies for criminal records checks for Early Years childcare providers and staff.

Government Departments: Energy Certificates

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: To ask Her Majesty's Government what level of display energy certificate was awarded to the Ministry of Justice building at 102 Petty France in each of the past three years.

Lord McNally: The level of display energy certificate (DEC) for the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) building at 102 Petty France in each of the past three years is as shown below:
	
		
			 Year DEC Grade DEC Score 
			 2008 G 200* (default) 
			 2009 G 213 
			 2010 G 210 
		
	
	*102 Petty France was occupied in May 2008. As DEC assessments take into account 12 months of operational data and 102 Petty France had not been occupied for 12 months, the building was therefore awarded a default G rating.
	The MoJ has implemented a range of initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of heating and cooling plant, help eliminate waste energy and improve lighting systems. These have reduced energy consumption in 102 Petty France by 21 per cent since May 2011. We are hopeful that this significant reduction in energy consumption will improve the next DEC rating assessment which is due in October 2011.

Higher Education: Diversity

Lord Lexden: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will measure progress towards the achievement of a diverse student body.

Lord Henley: The Government are committed to ensuring our universities remain open to all people with the ability to succeed in higher education. We are establishing a new framework, with increased responsibility on universities to widen participation.
	Each higher education institution will be responsible for advancing equality of opportunity in relation to their student body, and under the Equality Act 2010 will have the ability to take positive action to address identified under-representation.
	The student body in higher education has high representation from women and minority ethnic communities. Between 2000-01 and 2009-10, the proportion of female students in English institutions has increased from 56.9 per cent to 58.5 per cent and over the same period the proportion of students from minority ethnic communities has increased from 15.1 per cent to 20.4 per cent. Women and minority ethnic communities have higher participation levels in HE than would be expected by their representation in the population. The proportion of disabled students has increased from 4.9 per cent to 9.0 per cent.
	The department will continue to maintain an oversight of diversity trends in the student population.

House of Lords: Works of Art

Lord Trefgarne: To ask the Chairman of Committees whether he will bring forward proposals to improve the illumination of the Armada paintings installed in the Prince's Chamber.

Lord Brabazon of Tara: There are no plans to alter the lighting system which illuminates the Armada paintings. When the paintings were installed, the advice of lighting consultants was sought and a more bespoke system with a variety of light settings was discussed. However, due to the current economic climate the decision was taken to install the current lighting system, which was significantly cheaper than a more bespoke system. This system provides sufficient illumination to enable the paintings to be appreciated and there are no plans to change it.

Housing: Mortgages

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the level of mortgages available from banks in the United Kingdom; and what steps they propose to take to support first-time property purchases.

Lord Sassoon: The Government recognise the importance of a sustainable mortgage market to support a stable housing market.
	The current low levels of mortgage lending reflect a fall in demand, due to economic uncertainty. They also reflect a fall in supply, as banks take a more cautious approach to lending in light of the mistakes made in the run-up to the crisis.
	The Government are determined to ensure that creditworthy borrowers looking to buy a home or move should have access to affordable mortgages.
	That is why in the Budget last week, the Chancellor announced that Government will provide equity investment, jointly funded with house builders, through a FirstBuy programme assisting over 10,000 first time buyers to purchase a new-build property.

Human Rights

Baroness Hollins: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to improve the human rights of children and young people with intellectual disabilities in other countries.

Baroness Verma: The UK Government are committed to upholding human rights standards and the Department for International Development (DfID) works closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in promoting and protecting human rights for all people without discrimination on any grounds. We have ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child and their optional protocols and work with the UN and the European Union to advance disability rights and rights of the child in other countries. DfID also contributes to the Disability Rights Fund which provides grants to disabled persons organisations in Africa, Asia and eastern Europe, which then lobby for rights for people with disabilities.
	The UK works with governments and civil society groups in the poorest countries to support disabled children. For example, in Malawi DfID's programmes are sending 85,000 children with disabilities to school. In Bangladesh the DfID-funded Leonard Cheshire Trust project works with 16 districts of Rajshahi Division to promote inclusive education in 200 primary schools, train 400 primary school teachers and reach out to 2,400 children with disabilities. DfID has produced a guidance note on inclusive education for children with disabilities, which was developed with practitioners and experts in the field.

Immigration

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to hold a consultation on the operating standards for the pre-departure holding facility at Crawley.

Baroness Neville-Jones: We propose to consult a range of interested parties on the operating standards for the pre-departure accommodation later this year as part of a broader consultation exercise following the review of existing immigration removal centre and escorting operating standards.

Israel and Palestine

Lord Judd: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Government of Israel about the number of children from the occupied West Bank who are in Israeli prisons and the implications of this in terms of proportionate punishment and its potential political implications.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We regularly raise our concerns with the Israeli Government about the application of due process and the treatment of Palestinian detainees, including where children are involved. Our ambassador in Tel Aviv recently raised the issue of Israel's treatment of Palestinian children with Education Minister Saar and the Ministry for Foreign Affair's Principal Deputy Legal Adviser Daniel Taub.
	We are also supporting work by the Defence for Children International, to monitor, defend and promote the rights of Palestinian children, as protected under the convention on the rights of the child.
	We also fund No Legal Frontiers, which aims to ensure greater access to justice, through the publication of Israeli laws and military orders in Hebrew, Arabic and English and to carry out advocacy work. No Legal Frontiers also reports on the functioning of the juvenile military courts and provides legal defence for juvenile defendants.

Kosovo

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that international organisations provide adequate support to pregnant Roma women and Roma children in Kosovo.

Baroness Verma: The European Union and UN agencies are currently supporting the Roma community in Kosovo, including help for pregnant Roma women and children. Roma, as well as other minority Ashkali and Egyptian families living in makeshift and lead-polluted camps around Mitrovica, are being rehoused in safe, clean environments as part of resettlement and integration programmes. HM Government take every opportunity to encourage these activities and believe that the remaining contaminated camps must be closed as a matter of urgency.
	The Department for International Development (DfID) funded Roma Education Fund (REF) provides outreach programmes to 70,000 Roma children per year across the countries of the region. The REF is trying to scale-up its efforts in Kosovo to an appropriate level, in response to DfID encouragement.

Libya

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will work to ensure that foreign workers and Libyan nationals who wish to leave Libya are able to do so.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We have already been heavily involved in the evacuation and repatriation of British and foreign expatriate workers from Libya, both directly and by funding repatriation flights. The UK provided extensive logistic support for foreign workers leaving Libya, including paying for flights to secure the return home of 6,716 people from Tunisia to Egypt and Bangladesh. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development announced last week additional support to the International Organisation for Migration for a further 6,000 people.
	While we would not wish to see Libyan citizens prevented from leaving their country, the purpose of our implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1973 is to protect the civilian population rather than to permit the Gaddafi regime to drive its opponents into exile.
	We are working, including with the opposition leadership, to assess the humanitarian, stabilisation and reconstruction needs on the ground in order to determine where future international assistance might best be targeted.

Mileage Allowance Payment

Lord Bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government how the approved mileage allowance payment of 40p per mile for the first 10,000 miles is calculated; and what plans they have to change this.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how the figure of 45 pence per mile allowance included in the Budget 2011 is calculated.

Lord Sassoon: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given to the noble Lord, Lord Marlesford, on 10 January 2011 (Official Report, col. WA 372). The methodology used to change the rate in Budget 2011 is consistent with the approach outlined in the Government's earlier response.

Mongolia

Viscount Waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the value and volume of sector by sector imports and exports between the United Kingdom and Mongolia.

Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint: The following table shows the value and volume of goods, broken down by sector, of imports and exports between the UK and Mongolia in 2010.
	
		
			 UK Trade in Goods with Mongolia 2010 
			  Value  Volume  
			  Total Imports Total Exports Total Imports Total Exports 
			 SITC Pounds Sterling Pounds Sterling Quantity Quantity 
			 00 Live animals other than of Div. 03 0 0 0 0 
			 01 Meat and meat preparations 0 0 0 0 
			 02 Dairy products and birds' eggs 0 0 0 0 
			 03 Fish, (not marine mammals), crustaceans, molluscs, etc 0 0 0 0 
			 04 Cereals and cereal preparations 0 0 0 0 
			 05 Vegetables and fruit 0 0 0 0 
			 06 Sugar, sugar preparations and honey 0 0 0 0 
			 07 Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and manufactures there of 0 5,500 0 570 
			 08 Feeding stuff for animals not incl. unmilled cereals 0 7,830 0 470 
			 09 Miscellaneous edible products and preparations 0 7,688 0 291 
			 11 Beverages 27,162 32,144 16,180 8,104 
			 12 Tobacco and tobacco manufactures 0 0 0 0 
			 21 Hides, skins and furskins, raw 0 0 0 0 
			 22 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruit 0 0 0 0 
			 23 Crude rubber (incl. synthetic and reclaimed) 0 0 0 0 
			 24 Cork and wood 0 0 0 0 
			 25 Pulp and waste paper 0 0 0 0 
			 26 Textile fibres 2,881,771 0 59,291 0 
			 27 Crude fertilisers other than those of div. 56 0 0 0 0 
			 28 Metalliferous ores and metal scrap 0 0 0 0 
			 29 Crude animal and vegetable materials 0 0 0 0 
			 32 Coal, coke and briquettes 0 0 0 0 
			 33 Petroleum, & petroleum products 0 0 0 0 
			 34 Gas, natural and manufactured 0 0 0 0 
			 35 Electric current 0 0 0 0 
			 41 Animal oils and fats 0 0 0 0 
			 42 Fixed vegetable fats and oils 0 0 0 0 
			 43 Animal and vegetable oils and fats, processed, and waxes 0 0 0 0 
			 51 Organic chemicals 42,850 20,610 63,000 18,291 
			 52 Inorganic chemicals 0 0 0 0 
			 53 Dyeing, tanning and colouring materials 0 769 0 60 
			 54 Medicinal and pharmaceutical products 0 284,698 0 27,972 
			 55 Essential oils, resinoids, perfumes and cleansing prep. 0 94,417 0 84,861 
			 56 Fertilizers,(other than those of group 272) 0 0 0 0 
			 57 Plastics in primary forms 0 0 0 0 
			 58 Plastics in non-primary forms 0 35,690 0 3,702 
			 59 Chemical materials and products NES 0 77,304 0 15,957 
			 61 Leather, leather manufactures NES and dressed furskins 0 0 0 0 
			 62 Rubber manufactures NES 0 4,675 0 579 
			 63 Cork and wood manufactures (excl. furniture) 0 0 0 0 
			 64 Paper, paperboard, and articles of paper pulp; etc. 0 0 0 0 
			 65 Textile yarn, fabrics, made-up articles, NES 387,922 8,698 34,691 473 
			 66 Non-metallic mineral manufactures 0 286,249 0 188,269 
			 67 Iron and steel 0 0 0 0 
			 68 Non-ferrous metals 0 5,832 0 1 
			 69 Manufactures of metal NES 0 14,402 0 204 
			 71 Power generating machinery and equipment 590,583 1,145,658 912 13,475 
			 72 Specialised industrial machinery 0 3,556,556 0 427,978 
			 73 Metalworking machinery 22,171 7,155 150 175 
			 74 General industrial machinery and equipment, and parts NES 0 189,611 0 28,903 
			 75 Office machines and ADP equipment 0 101,568 0 800 
			 76 Telecoms and sound recording and reproducing apparatus 22,587 396,441 120 1,367 
			 77 Electrical machinery, NES and electrical parts thereof 0 85,560 0 723 
			 78 Road vehicles 0 3,594,582 0 212,331 
			 79 Other transport equipment 24,584 167,384 51 451 
			 81 Prefabricated buildings; plumbing, heating and lighting 0 2,499 0 308 
			 82 Furniture ; bedding, mattresses, supports, cushions etc 0 0 0 0 
			 83 Travel goods, handbags and similar containers 0 1,466 0 4 
			 84 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories 4,095,290 625,143 59,513 5,397 
			 85 Footwear 0 4,099 0 24 
			 87 Professional, scientific and control instruments 56,777 240,184 45 2,941 
			 88 Photo & optical equipment, supplies, watches and clocks 0 3,675 0 11 
			 89 Miscellaneous manufactured article NES 367,535 88,489 29,862 2,930 
			 91 Postal packages not classified according to kind 75,175 0 372 0 
			 93 Special transactions and commodities not classified according to kind 0 0 0 0 
			 96 Coin (Other than gold coin), not being legal tender 0 0 0 0 
			 97 Gold and gold plate unwrought, semi-manufactured or scrap 0 0 0 0 
			 98 Military weapons and accessories 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	Source: BIS analysis of data from HMRC

Pensions

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they have offered to those who receive pensions from the First Trust Bank to ensure that they will not have their pensions reduced in any current changes.

Lord Freud: The Pensions Regulator was set up under the Pensions Act 2004 and is the body responsible for the regulation of work-based pension schemes in the UK. Parliament gave the regulator operational independence in its regulatory decision-making; this means that Ministers are not involved in decisions to exercise its powers or its casework.
	For any takeover of a company with occupational pension liabilities, the immediate responsibility falls on the scheme trustees to ensure that members do not lose out as a result of the corporate event. As part of their fiduciary duty, trustees are expected to act in the best interests of the scheme in any negotiations. However, the regulator stands behind the trustees and there is a proportionate regulatory regime in place to address situations where a change to the ownership of an employer could present a risk to members' benefits. Decisions by the regulator are subject to legal tests and it must be satisfied that it is reasonable to exercise its powers.

Schools: Independent Sector

Lord Willis of Knaresborough: To ask Her Majesty's Government what examples of good managerial, accounting, pedagogical and curriculum practice they have observed in United Kingdom independent schools; and how those are being used to influence good practice in state schools.

Lord Hill of Oareford: The Department for Education (DfE) is currently exploring how independent schools can be more involved in reforming the education system as set out in the White Paper The Importance of Teaching and in particular, the extent to which examples of effective practice within independent schools are transferable to maintained schools. As part of that exploration, officials have been visiting a number of schools within the independent sector to observe and discuss with head teachers and staff a range of practices, including approaches to the curriculum and pedagogy, practices relating to teacher training and how independent schools engage with employers. The extent to which these practices are transferable to the maintained sector will be carefully considered and used to inform policy development and implementation in relation to a range of key areas such as the national curriculum, teacher training and improving pupil engagement with employers.

Schools: Support Services

Lord Willis of Knaresborough: To ask Her Majesty's Government what charges academies or free schools are allowed to make to parents for educational or support services.

Lord Hill of Oareford: In line with the Academies Act 2010 (Section 1(9)) which prohibits charging, academies and free schools must not seek any payment for admission or education.
	However, academies and free schools, like maintained schools, are able to charge for after-hours provision such as after school clubs and extra tuition.

Taxation: Corporation Tax

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ensure that all banks operating in the United Kingdom include in their statutory accounts details of United Kingdom corporation tax actually paid for each of the past five years and the accrued tax losses allowable against United Kingdom corporation tax at each of the past five year ends.

Baroness Wilcox: UK banks report in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards. IFRS requires disclosure in the statutory accounts of a company's tax expense for the year. This figure may include the corporation tax expense from the current year and, if applicable, an adjustment for prior year tax losses. In addition, as part of its cash flow statement, entities are required to disclose cash flows from taxes on income. We currently have no plans to extend these requirements.

Taxation: VAT

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the definition of confectionery for VAT purposes depends on the contents of an item or on the way it is presented for sale.

Lord Sassoon: Confectionery for VAT purposes is not defined in statute. Case law indicates that the contents of a product, the process applied to those contents and the way it is packaged and presented are all factors which may be relevant when determining whether it is confectionery for VAT purposes.

Taxation: VAT

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: To ask Her Majesty's Government what VAT is payable on dried fruit snacks that contain nothing but fruit; and whether the rate of VAT varies depending how that dried fruit is packaged.

Lord Sassoon: Unprocessed, unsweetened dried fruit is zero-rated for VAT. Dried fruit snacks such as fruit bars, the preparation of which involves a process such as mashing, mixing or compounding or the addition of sweetening matter, will generally be confectionery and therefore standard-rated for VAT.
	The way a product is packaged or presented for sale may be a factor to be taken into account when determining whether it is confectionery.

Visas

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Jones on 5 July (WA 30), whether they have decided to end the labour market restrictions on Bulgarian and Romanian nationals which apply until the end of 2013; and what discussions they have had with the European Commission on the matter.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The Government have not yet made any decision on whether to extend the current restrictions on Bulgarian and Romanian nationals' access to the labour market beyond the end of 2011. They have not had any discussions with the European Commission on the matter.

Visas

Viscount Waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Mongolians received visas for entry into the United Kingdom in each of the past five years; and how many of those were for the purpose of (a) study, and (b) business.

Baroness Neville-Jones: The total number of visas issued to nationals of Mongolia in each of the five years from 2006 to 2010 is shown in the attached table. The number of visas issued in the student, student visitor, business visitor and business categories is also shown.
	
		
			 Visas Issued to Mongolian Nationals-2006-10 
			 Category All Student Student Visitor Business Visitor Other Business visas 
			 2006 1545 278 - 61 0 
			 2007 2691 967 63 142 0 
			 2008 1603 298 75 281 0 
			 2009 1818 305 32 306 0 
			 2010 1495 135 42 347 0

Visas

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Jones on 14 March (WA 26), how many certificates of sponsorship in January and February 2011 involving Tier 2 intra-company transfers had a basic salary, excluding allowances, of less than the national minimum wage; whether any resulted in visas for leave to enter the United Kingdom; and whether the UK Border Agency will pass on details to HM Revenue and Customs of sponsors that appear to be paying basic salaries less than the national minimum wage.

Baroness Neville-Jones: Information on the number of certificates of sponsorship (CoS) assigned and used in January and February 2011 for Tier 2 (intra company transfers) where the basic salary is less than the national minimum wage is shown in the table below.
	Information on whether the application has resulted in the grant of leave to enter or remain is not centrally recorded and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The UK Border Agency does not routinely pass information to HMRC where the basic salary quoted is less than the national minimum wage. The UK Border Agency does have an agreement with HMRC which allows checks to be made regarding payment of income tax and national insurance.
	
		
			 Month Age 18-20 CoS Assigned with basic salary below Age 18 -20 CoS Used with basic salary below Age 21 + CoS Assigned with basic salary below Age 21+ CoS Used with basic salary below 
			  £10,233.60x1 £10,233.60x1 £12,334.40x2 £12,334.40x2 
			 January 2011 0 0 221 191 
			 February 2011 1 1 247 213 
		
	
	xl This figure is based on the current hourly rate for the minimum wage of £4.92 and assumes a 40 hour week, 52 weeks per year.
	x2 This figure is based on the current hourly rate for the minimum wage of £5.93 and assumes a 40 hour week, 52 weeks of the year.
	The term assigned relates to those CoS issued by a sponsor to a migrant. The term used relates to those CoS where a migrant has applied for leave to enter or remain and included the CoS to support the application.

World Water Day

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to support World Water Day.

Baroness Verma: On 22 March the Secretary of State for the Department for International Development joined hundreds of thousands of people across the globe who walked in solidarity with the almost 900 million people worldwide who still have no access to safe drinking water, and the 2.6 billion people without a toilet. The event, called World Walks for Water, was organised by global campaign group End Water Poverty. The Secretary of State used the opportunity to reiterate the disproportionate impact on women and girls which inadequate water and sanitation access causes and to set out how the British Government have promised to give millions of the poorest people access to clean drinking water, safe sanitation and better hygiene practices.